Endicott residents object to school's new dog ban

A sign informs visitors to the Endicott school grounds to not drive over the property or bring their animals on school grounds.

Some Endicott residents have raised concern after new signs have been erected at the Endicott school asking visitors to the grounds to not bring their animals on the grounds or drive over the property.

Endicott resident Etol Lilliard attended the Endicott school board meeting July 29 to express her concerns.

"I have been an appreciative walker on this campus for nine years," Lilliard said. "Perhaps I am the voice of a lot of people who are not here."

Lilliard said many people were surprised by the signs, erected in July. She said she agrees that dogs defecating on the school grounds is an issue, but she thinks a compromise can be reached.

"The problem is dogs defecating on the school grounds and (the waste) not being picked up. It's disgusting," she said. "There's nothing so terrible as walking in it. What options do we have outside of the big no?"

Lilliard's dogs are registered certified therapy dogs, and she takes them many places with her. She said she particularly enjoys taking them to the school grounds.

"This is a little slice of heaven that we have come to enjoy," she said, praising the work of grounds manager Gail Larson. "The parks in town are not friendly enough to really walk," she added

Another Endicott resident, Jamie Misner, also expressed her concerns at the board meeting.

"My dog walks my kids to school every day, and now she can't," she said. "Many pet owners consider their dogs part of their family."

Misner also said she thinks a compromise can be reached.

"Gail does an amazing job on the grounds," she said. "I think we can come to some sort of compromise. I don't want it to be an unfriendly place."

Misner also expressed concern that dogs not being allowed on the school grounds would deter people from traveling to Endicott for Fourth of July celebrations because many people bring their dogs along with them.

Superintendent Suzanne Schmick would like to invite more discussion on the policy. She said the school board made the decision at their May meeting based on a report to the board about the grounds. She said the decision was made with the students in mind.

"The bottom line is keeping things looking good and healthy for the kids," she said.

Schmick also praised Larson for making the grounds "beautiful" and "inviting." She said she wants to be able to reach a compromise with Endicott residents.

"We want to do what's right for the patrons," she said. "I just remain really positive about this. We're about solving it."

Schmick said she hopes to meet with any concerned residents and city representatives for discussion before the next school board meeting later this month.

"This might be an opportunity to invite our community to work with us. The frustration is of people not picking up after their dogs," she said. "The main goal everyone has is very simple. We all enjoy the space. I know we're going to figure this out. The people of Endicott are problem solvers."

Lilliard and Misner both suggested allowing the space to be open to patrons with their dogs with the addition of pooper scooper bags and appropriate places to dispose of them.

The next joint school board meeting is scheduled Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. at the St. John school.